Accessibility Links

European Challenge Cup: Late drama as Edinburgh secure home quarter-final

Edinburgh 34 Stade Français 33

Alasdair Reid, Scottish Rugby Correspondent

January 13 2018, 12:01am, The Times

Watson is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring Edinburgh’s first try of the nightIAN MACNICOL/GETTY IMAGES

Edinburgh last night marched into the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup, securing a home quarter-final to boot, with this dramatic victory at BT Murrayfield. It was a fraught and nervous performance, but when Nathan Fowles clipped a kick into Stade’s dead ball area two minutes from the end Junior Rasolea followed up superbly to grab the winning try.

It was the third time in the second half that Edinburgh had come back from behind. Yet there was no question that their victory was deserved and they will travel to Paris for the return leg next weekend with the luxury of knowing that they are playing only to bolster their seedings for the next stage.

“It was a game that had to be won: almost…

Want to read more?

Subscribe now and get unlimited digital access on web and our smartphone and tablet apps, free for your first month.